2016 Sony World Photography Award Winners

Luciola parvula, a species of firelfy, light up a bamboo forest in Japan. (Kei Nomiyana/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Kei Nomiyana

This series of photographs, Empire of dust has been realized in south Italy, in the regions of Sicily, Calabria, Basilicata and Puglia, where financial crises and embezzlement have made of the incompleteness, an architectural aesthetics. Through this series, she tries jointly through an "archeology of the present" to reflect the contemporary history by the yardstick of these unfinished architectures, while invoking the viewer's imagination so that there unfolds a variant of the world. (Amelie Labourdette/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

This series of photographs, ‘Empire of Dust,’ was taken in south Italy, in the regions of Sicily, Calabria, Basilicata and Puglia, where financial crises and embezzlement have made of the incompleteness an architectural aesthetic. Through this series, she tries jointly through an ‘archaeology of the present’ to reflect the contemporary history by the yardstick of these unfinished architectures, while invoking the viewer’s imagination so that there unfolds a variant of the world. (Amelie Labourdette/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Amelie Labourdette

This series of photographs, ‘Empire of Dust,’ was taken in south Italy, in the regions of Sicily, Calabria, Basilicata and Puglia, where financial crises and embezzlement have made of the incompleteness an architectural aesthetic. Through this series, she tries jointly through an ‘archaeology of the present’ to reflect the contemporary history by the yardstick of these unfinished architectures, while invoking the viewer’s imagination so that there unfolds a variant of the world. (Amelie Labourdette/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Amelie Labourdette

TransBrasil is an ongoing project, which aims deepen about gender identities issues from documentary photography perspective. It proposes to approach different social and cultural expressions that question the binary schemes masculine/feminine to understand the gender and identity process. (Jetmir Idrizi/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

TransBrasil is an ongoing project, which aims to deepen the gender identities issues from a documentary photography perspective. It approaches different social and cultural expressions that question the binary schemes of masculine/feminine to understand the gender and identity process. (Jetmir Idrizi/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Jetmir Idrizi

TransBrasil is an ongoing project, which aims to deepen the gender identities issues from a documentary photography perspective. It approaches different social and cultural expressions that question the binary schemes of masculine/feminine to understand the gender and identity process. (Jetmir Idrizi/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Jetmir Idrizi

The series Waiting for the Candymen is a study of Cuban idiosyncrasy; an allegory of waiting: Waiting the right moment, waiting for tomorrow, waiting for something or someone who brings redemption. (Kirstin Schmitt/Sony World Photography Awards)

The series, ‘Waiting for the Candymen,’ is a study of Cuban idiosyncrasy; an allegory of waiting: waiting for the right moment, waiting for tomorrow, waiting for something or someone who brings redemption. (Kirstin Schmitt/Sony World Photography Awards)

Kirstin Schimitt

The series, ‘Waiting for the Candymen,’ is a study of Cuban idiosyncrasy; an allegory of waiting: waiting for the right moment, waiting for tomorrow, waiting for something or someone who brings redemption. (Kirstin Schmitt/Sony World Photography Awards)

Kirstin Schmitt

This project is about space exploration and discovery, but it’s also about our behavior in front of landscapes and how we create pictures that will share our personal story with the world. In the spots, carefully chosen for their similarities with Mars, the photographer imitated stereotypical tourist poses. It’s interesting to observe the way we act in front of the camera, how we include ourselves in the landscapes, and how those landscapes trigger the desire to affirm our presence. And how the way we take pictures exposes the vanity involved in our endless pursuit of self-definition. (Julien Mauve/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Julien Mauve

nullThis project is about space exploration and discovery, but it's also about our behavior in front of landscapes and how we create pictures that will share our personal story with the world. In every spots, carefully chosen for their similarities with the red planet, the photographer imitated stereotypical tourist poses. It's interesting to observe the way we act in front of the camera, how we include ourselves in the landscapes, how those landscapes trigger the desire to affirm our presence. And how the way we take pictures exposes the vanity involved in our endless pursuit of self-definition. (Julien Mauve/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

This project is about space exploration and discovery, but it’s also about our behavior in front of landscapes and how we create pictures that will share our personal story with the world. In the spots, carefully chosen for their similarities with Mars, the photographer imitated stereotypical tourist poses. It’s interesting to observe the way we act in front of the camera, how we include ourselves in the landscapes, and how those landscapes trigger the desire to affirm our presence. And how the way we take pictures exposes the vanity involved in our endless pursuit of self-definition. (Julien Mauve/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Julien Mauve

Migration to Europe has increased over the past years, mainly because of political and social turmoil in the Middle East. During the recent years, Greece has been the path for thousands refugees and migrants for their crossing from Turkey to Greece and other European countries. The main places of entrance are the islands of Kos and Lesbos by sea. Greek government, in an effort to minimize the wave of refugees entering the country has built an 8-mile long and 8-feet high barbed-wire wall at the main entrance point at its north eastern borderline with Turkey. This caused a huge wave of refugees and migrants trying to enter the country by the Aegean Sea. For many, it is their first encounter with the sea. Hundreds have lost their lives in their attempt to reach the European Union, man hoping to reunite with long-lost friends and family. At the time I write this text, millions of refugees and migrants wait in Turkey to cross the sea border for a better life. (Angelos Tzortzinis/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Migration to Europe has increased over the past years, mainly because of political and social turmoil in the Middle East. During recent years, Greece has been the path for thousands refugees and migrants to cross from Turkey to Greece and other European countries. (Angelos Tzortzinis/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

AFP

Migration to Europe has increased over the past years, mainly because of political and social turmoil in the Middle East. During recent years, Greece has been the path for thousands refugees and migrants to cross from Turkey to Greece and other European countries. (Angelos Tzortzinis/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

AFP

Coal used to be the gold of West Virginia, US. But then Obama came and new environmental regulations. Together with lower price on coal, it led to huge redundancies and the coal became a curse for many of the coal-cities in West Virginia. In 1940, 140.000 worked in the mountains, today only about 15.000 are left in the coal business. Town like Beckley and Mullens does not have many other sources of income. Drugs, pills, alcohol and violence is dominant many places, and young people are struggling to find work, forcing many to move. (Espen Rasmussen/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Coal used to be the gold of West Virginia. But then Obama was elected and passed new environmental regulations. Together with lower prices of coal, it led to huge redundancies, and the coal became a curse for many of the coal cities in West Virginia. In 1940, 140,000 workers worked in the mountains; today only about 15,000 are left in the coal business. Towns like Beckley and Mullens do not have many other sources of income. Drugs, pills, alcohol, and violence dominate in many places, and young people are struggling to find work, forcing many to move. (Espen Rasmussen/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Espen Rasmussen

Coal used to be the gold of West Virginia. But then Obama was elected and passed new environmental regulations. Together with lower prices of coal, it led to huge redundancies, and the coal became a curse for many of the coal cities in West Virginia. In 1940, 140,000 workers worked in the mountains; today only about 15,000 are left in the coal business. Towns like Beckley and Mullens do not have many other sources of income. Drugs, pills, alcohol, and violence dominate in many places, and young people are struggling to find work, forcing many to move. (Espen Rasmussen/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Espen Rasmussen

The Eagle Hunting festival, organized by the local hunting community, is part of an effort to promote and grow traditional hunting practices for new generations in the mountainous region of western China that borders Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia. The training and handling of the large birds of prey follows a strict set of ancient rules that Kazakh eagle hunters are preserving for future generations. (Kevin Frayer/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Getty Images

The Eagle Hunting festival, organized by the local hunting community, is part of an effort to promote and grow traditional hunting practices for new generations in the mountainous region of western China that borders Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia. The training and handling of the large birds of prey follows a strict set of ancient rules that Kazakh eagle hunters are preserving for future generations. (Kevin Frayer/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Getty Images

Named for its desert, Namibia is one of the least densely populated places on earth, visually defined by rich colors in a barren, yet constantly changing landscape; the vast brown plain of scorched earth, the white surface of the salt pans, the gold tones of the sand dunes. Patience is required to discover Namibia’s subtle scenery. Hours of driving reveals more emptiness; the sight of other people rare, and only the strategically located gas stations a reminder of the world beyond. (Maroesjka Lavigne/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Maroesjka Lavigne

Named for its desert, Namibia is one of the least densely populated places on earth, visually defined by rich colors in a barren, yet constantly changing landscape; the vast brown plain of scorched earth, the white surface of the salt pans, the gold tones of the sand dunes. Patience is required to discover Namibia’s subtle scenery. Hours of driving reveals more emptiness; the sight of other people rare, and only the strategically located gas stations a reminder of the world beyond. (Maroesjka Lavigne/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Maroesjka Lavigne

Tibetan nomads face many challenges to their traditional way of life including political pressures, forced resettlement by China’s government, climate change, and rapid modernization. The Tibetan Plateau, often called ‘The Roof of the World,’ is the world’s highest and largest plateau. (Kevin Frayer/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Getty Images

Tibetan nomads face many challenges to their traditional way of life including political pressures, forced resettlement by China’s government, climate change, and rapid modernization. The Tibetan Plateau, often called ‘The Roof of the World,’ is the world’s highest and largest plateau. (Kevin Frayer/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Getty Images

The most widespread epidemic of Ebola virus disease in Sierra Leone ended the 7th October 2015 with 14,122 cases and 3,955 deaths. That required the complex and brave intervention of international NGOs in the attempt to fight the virus. The Italian NGO, Emergency, ran an Ebola treatment center built by DFEED. Thanks to the medical care of Emergency, were able to start a new life. They returned to life finding their families partly or totally killed by the virus. (Marcello Bonfanti/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

The most widespread outbreak of the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone ended on October 7, 2015, with 14,122 cases and 3,955 deaths. That required the complex and brave intervention of international NGOs in the attempt to fight the virus. The Italian NGO, Emergency, ran an Ebola treatment center built by DFEED. Thanks to the medical care of Emergency, many were able to start a new life. They returned to life finding their families partly or totally killed by the virus. (Marcello Bonfanti/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Marcello Bonfanti

The most widespread outbreak of the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone ended on October 7, 2015, with 14,122 cases and 3,955 deaths. That required the complex and brave intervention of international NGOs in the attempt to fight the virus. The Italian NGO, Emergency, ran an Ebola treatment center built by DFEED. Thanks to the medical care of Emergency, many were able to start a new life. They returned to life finding their families partly or totally killed by the virus. (Marcello Bonfanti/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Marcello Bonfanti

Portraits of the silver medal winners just after losing their final at the Zealand boxing Championships held in Copenhagen in March. (Nikolai Linares/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Nikolai Linares

In this project, Alberto Alicata traces the history of photography through iconic images by using a symbol of contemporary Western culture: Barbie. Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Guy Bourdin, David Lachapelle, and Mario Testino are some of the photography greats that Alicata honors. He studied each carefully chosen shot and recreated a set of them with Barbie front and center, honoring the original that inspired it. That is, in order to strengthen the authenticity and timelessness of the images, which now become part of our visual memory. (Alberto Alicata/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Alberto Alicata

In this project, Alberto Alicata traces the history of photography through iconic images by using a symbol of contemporary Western culture: Barbie. Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Guy Bourdin, David Lachapelle, and Mario Testino are some of the photography greats that Alicata honors. He studied each carefully chosen shot and recreated a set of them with Barbie front and center, honoring the original that inspired it. That is, in order to strengthen the authenticity and timelessness of the images, which now become part of our visual memory. (Alberto Alicata/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Alberto Alicata

Once a year Italian families make tomato sauce at home, cooking and canning a huge amount of vegetables. Tons of tomatoes are grown in the fields of the south of the country and harvested by about 19,000 laborers, paid 1 or 2 euro for each filled box. (Francesco Amorosino/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Once a year Italian families make tomato sauce at home, cooking and canning tons of tomatoes. The tomatoes are grown in the fields of southern Italy and harvested by about 19,000 laborers, paid one or two euro for each box filled. (Francesco Amorosino/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Francesco Amorosino

Once a year Italian families make tomato sauce at home, cooking and canning tons of tomatoes. The tomatoes are grown in the fields of southern Italy and harvested by about 19,000 laborers, paid one or two euro for each box filled. (Francesco Amorosino/2016 Sony World Photography Awards)

Francesco Amorosino

The violent act of acid throwing is primarily against women and children. These attacks are committed with the intent to disfigure, maim and destroy the social life and future of the victim. The motivation to commit this type of violence is cultural destitution, intolerance and happens in situations such as family conflicts, rejected marriage proposal, revenge and divorce requests. (Asghar Khamseh/Iran)

The violent act of acid throwing is primarily perpetrated against women and children. These attacks are committed with the intent to disfigure, maim, and destroy the social life and future of the victim. The motivation to commit this type of violence is cultural destitution and intolerance and happens in situations such as family conflicts, rejected marriage proposals, revenge, and divorce requests. (Asghar Khamseh/Iran)

Asghar Khamseh

The violent act of acid throwing is primarily perpetrated against women and children. These attacks are committed with the intent to disfigure, maim, and destroy the social life and future of the victim. The motivation to commit this type of violence is cultural destitution and intolerance and happens in situations such as family conflicts, rejected marriage proposals, revenge, and divorce requests. (Asghar Khamseh/Iran)

Asghar Khamseh